Apparatus for operating therapeutic devices



March 28, 1944. W, RQSETT 2,345,073

APPARATUS FOR OPERATING THERAPEUTIG DEVICES Filed April l0, 1942 A 2Sheets-Sheet 1 fgq 1 2/ 20 25 /03 ml) /mg INVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 28, 1944 APPARATUS FOR OPERATING THERAPEUTIC DEVICESWalter Rosett, Forest Hills,` N. Y.,

one-third to Blanche B. N. Y., and one-thir- Orleans, La.

assignor of Rosett, New York,

d to Arthur Rosett, New

'Application April 1o, 1942, serial No. 438,380

3 Claims.

embodied in therapeutic devices for propelling the venous blood of thebody toward the heart, thereby providing a systematic kneading of thetissues of the body and consequent enhancement of circulation of thefluids in the lymphatic spaces.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a distributingvalve adapted to serially apply pressure to said pneumatic bags embodiedin the therapeutic device and to serially apply vacuum subsequent to theremoval of said bags from the influence of said pressure.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a control unitcomprised of a rotary compressor, means to drive the same, a reductiongear connected to said means, and a distributing valve driven by saidreduction gear at a reduced rate of speed, connections between thedischarge of said compressor and said distributing valve, anotherconnection between said distributing valve and the intake of saidcompressor, and a control panel for said unit including a pressure gaugeand a bleeder valve connected to said discharge, a second bleeder valveand a vacuum gauge connected to said intake, and a plurality ofconnections to said distributor valve which are serially andsequentially subjected to pressure and vacuum, said control rpanel beingsituated so that the operator may control every phase of the operationfrom the single position.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of the distributorvalve for pressure and vacuum including a tapered rotor which is seatedin a corresponding tapered bore in said valve under the urge ofsaldpressure at the large end thereof and under the urge of said vacuumat the Small end thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a distributor valveof settable means for regulating the degree of engagement of the taperedsurface on the rotor with the correspond ing tapered surface in thestator.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art upon the perusal of the following specication and theaccompanying drawings wherein: I

Figure 1 is a plan view ofthe complete control device with the .top ofthe cabinet removed:

Figure 2 is an elevation partially in section of the device shown inFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation of the device connected to atherapeutic device to be controlled thereby;

Figure 4 is an elevation of one form of distributor valve embodied insaid device;

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of the distributor valve of Figure 4as seen along the line 5-5 of Figure 6;

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of the distributor valve as seen alongthe hues of 8 5 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional elevation of a modified form of the controlvalve shown in Figure 5 as seen along the lines 'l-I of Figure 8;

Figure 8 is a sectional elevation as seen along the line 8-8 of Figure7.

Figure 9 is a -sectional elevation of a further modification of thedistributor valve; and,

Figure 10 is an elevation of the right end of the device, Figure 1,showing the control panel.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a casing generally designated by thenumeral 20 houses the compressor, the motor, the distributor valve andallied devices. 'I'his casing has a base 2l. an end wall 22, side walls23 and 2.4, and an end wall 25 which forms a control panel for thedevice as will hereinafter be described. The compressor 25 carries a flywheel pulley 21 which is connected to a pulley 26 carried on the shaft21 of the motor 28 by means of a belt 29.

The motor shaft 2l also carries a member 29 which engages a cooperativemember 30 carried on the shaft 3l of a gear reduction unit 32, to form aCardan joint or flexible drive between the shaft 2l andthe shaft 3l. Thegear reduction unit 32 has a shaft 33 which is driven at reduced speeddue to the gearing therein. A distributor valve 34, details of whichwill presently be described, has a shaft 35 extending therefrom inalignment with the shaft 33, and a member 35 on the shaft 33 and acooperative member 31 on the shaft 35 form a flexible between.

One form of distributor valve 34 is shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6 andconsists of a rotor 3l which is preferably tapered. yThis rotor forms aworking t with' the tapered bore formed in the body casting 40. An endplate 4I secured to one end of the body carries a bearing 42 for thedriving joint thereshaft extension 43 and a suitable stuffing box 44. Bymeans of a pipe fitting 45, air under pressure is led into thedistributor valve and the stuffing box 44 will prevent the air fromleaking around the shaft extension 43.

A similar end plate 46 is secured to the opposite end of the body 40 andcarries a bearing 41 for the shaft extension 35. By means of a pipefitting 48, the space 49 between the end of the rotor 38 and the endplate 46 is subjected to subatmospheric pressures, as for example, byconnecting'this iitting to the inlet side of a pump. A suitable stuffingbox 50 ls provided for preventing the ingress of air around the shaftextension 35.

Equally spaced about the bore 39 in the body 40 are ports 5|. 52, 53,54, 55, and 56, each of said ports being provided with pipe threads toaccommodate suitable fittings such as 51, 58, 59, 60, 6| and 62.

A port opening 63 is formed in the rotor 38, the length or which ispreferably equal to the distance between any two adjacent ports plusapproximately half of the width of a port. A cross hole 64 extends fromthe port opening 63 to a chamber 65 formed in the large end of therotor, which chamber is in communication with the source of air underpressure via the tting 45 so that as the rotor is moved, for example, inthe direction of the arrow as shown in Figure 6, air under pressure issuccessively furnished to the ports 56, 55, 54 and 52, therefore the airbags connected to these ports, as will presently be described inconnection with Figure 3, are successively inated.

The rotor 38 also has formed therein a circular port 66 which preferablyextends a distance substantially equal to the arcuate distance from oneport to the third port in advance thereof. In other words this arcuateport is always in communication with at least three of the ports and isin communication with four of the ports just at the time one end isleaving a port and the other is coming into communication with a port. Apassage 61 formed inthe rotor 38 communicates with the chamber 49 andtherefore the ports spanned by the circular port 66 are subjected tosub-atmospheric pressures to facilitate the removal of'air from air bagswhich have previously been inflated as `will also be presently describedin connection with Figure 3.

A pipe 19 is connected to the discharge of the pump and carries fittingsconnecting the discharge of the compressor to a filter 1| which issupported on the -base 2l by means of brackets 12, 18. y

Extending from the filter 1| is a nipple 14 to which is connected oneend of a hose or tube 15. The other end of the tube is connected to thenipple 45 on the distributor valve 34, and thereby compressed air isdelivered to the chamber 65 therein. This air, via the passages 84. andthe port 63, is successively delivered to the ports 5|, 56, 55, 54 and52.

Also connected to the nipple 45 is a branch pipe 16 which is connectedto a gauge 11 and to a bleeder valve 18l which is controlled by a handle19. The gauge and the bleeder valve are i mounted on the end 25 of thecabinet, which constitutes a control panel.

The inlet or` suction of the pump 26 has connected thereto a nipple 80,to one end of which a pipe or hose 8l is connected'. In the arrangementshown in Figures 1 and 2, the nipple 48 on the distributor valve 34extends upwardly and 83 has one end connected to the T 82 and theotherend connected to a union 84.

Extending from the union 84 is a pipe 85 which connects to a gauge 88and a. bleeder valve 81 carrying-an adjusting handle 88. The gauge 86 isalso mounted on the control panel 25 and is capable of indicatingsub-atmospheric temperatures.

The control panel carries nipples 89, 90, 9|, 92, 83, and 94 which arerespectively connected to the nipples 6|, 62, 51, 58, 59 and 60 of thedistributor valve 34 by means of tubes 95, 96, 91, 98,99 and |00.

The cabinet 20 is provided with a suitable cover |0| having Ventilatingholes |02 formed therein and is secured to the cabinet by means of wingnuts |03.

As an example of the use of the device and the method of operating atherapeutic device thereby, reference is made to Figure 3 wherein atherapeutic device generally designated by the numeral |04 carries aleg-embracing member |05, a legembracing member |06, arm-embracingmembers |01 and |08, and a torso-embracing member |09. These embracingmembers include a series of rubber bags, and the object is toselectively and sequentially inflate and deflate said bags in groups, inorder to accelerate the circulation of the -blood in the veins of thehuman body toward the heart.

The rubber tube for instance, is connected to all of their air bags inthe embraoingemembers designated by the numeral and is also connected,as may be seen in Figure 1, to the nipple 89, which is in turn connectedto the port 55 associated with the nipple 6| in Figure 6.

The hose 2 is likewise connected to all of the bags designated by thenumeral 2, and this hose is also connected to thenipple 90, which is inturn connected to the nipple 60 on the distributor valve, Figure 6,communicating with the port 54.

The other bags are connected in the order to 3, 4, 5 and 6, as indicatedin Figure 3. The embracing members are preferably attached to a mattress||0 and the rubber tubes to 6 are concealed within the body of themattress and exit to the embracing members via the casings controls theflow of current to the motor 28, is

thrown to the on position, thereby starting the motor in operation. Thisdrives the compressor' or pump 26 and air is delivered via the strainer1| to the pressure end of the distributor valve 84 via the nipple 45.Since the distributor valve is rotated at a slower speed by the gearreduc--l tion box 32, the valve rotates slowly, for example in thedirection indicated by the arrow in Figure 6.

The suction side of the pump is connected to the suction end of thedistributor valve via the pipe 48 for removing air from any bagspreviously inflated. By means of the valve 18, the pressure reading onthe gauge 11 may be set by the operator; likewise by means of the valve81, the desired vacuum setting may be made and read oi on the vacuumgauge 86.

As the rotor 38 of the distributor valve 34 rotates, the ports aresupplied with air under presthe following order: To the ports 6|, 66,66, 64, 63 and 62. In Figure 6, it will be seen that the port 63 is incommunication with the port 6| and has Just been cut off from the port62. As the rotor advances inthe direction of the arrows, the port 63next will communicate with the port 56 and will be cut oft' from theport 6|.

At the same time the suction side of the compressor is, via the chamber49 and the passage 61, connected to the port 66, which is at all timesin communication with at least three of the ports which have beenpreviously supplied with pressure. Some of the time the port 66 is incommunication with four of the ports, one such instance being when therotor is in the position shown in Figure 6. The port .66 at that timecommunicates with the ports 66, 55, 64 and 53.

'I'he vacuum or suction deates the rubber bags that have been previouslyinated, so that a sharper and snappier effect is obtained when the bagsare inflated.

The bags, when the device is operating, are inated in the order, 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, respectively, and producein the arms, legs and torso of thebody a. series of squeezes progressively moving upwardly toward thegeneral direction of the heart, and thereby the blood in the veins isaccelerated toward the heart.

A therapeutic device of the type illustrated diagrammatically in Figure3 is shown and described in great detail in co-pending applicationSerial Number 438,381, led April 10, 1932.

Figures 'I and 8 show a further modification of the distributor valve.The valvebody ||1 has preferably a. tapered bore therein and carriesports ||8, ||9, |20, |2|, |22 and |23. An end plate |24 carries abearing |25 for the shaft end |26.

Within the bearing |25 is a hardened ball |21 which is urged intocontact with the end of the shaft |26 by means of a spring |26. A boss|29 on the end plate |24 is tapped to receive a nipple |30 which wouldbe connected to the discharge of a compressor.

A passage |3| within the end plate |24 communicates with the chamber |32which in turn communicates with a passage |33 and a distributor port|34.

A rotor |35 in addition to the shaft extension |26 carries a shaft |36.The passage |33 and the distributor port |34 are formed in this rotor.

The end plate |31 is secured to the body |1 and carries a bearing |39supporting the shaft |36, A stuilng box |40 is provided to preventleakage into or out of the valve from the atmosphere. A boss |4| carriesa nipple |42 communicating with a passage |43 and the chamber |44.

When the pipe |42 is connected to the suction of a compressor, thevacuum is compressed on the interiors of the passage |43 and the chamberf |44. The passage |45 communicates with the chamber |44 and with theport |46. The operation of this valve is substantially the same as thatdescribed above. However, the pressure oi.' the steel ball |21 againstthe end of the shaft |26 tends to urge the rotor shaft toward the left,as seen in Figure 7, and thereby tends to minimize the leakage of airbetween the tapered surfaces in contact with each other.

In the modification shown in Figure 9, the valve body I 41 is providedwith a tapered bore and carries an end plate |48'.with a bearing |49therein for supporting the shaft |56. The

end plate has a passage |6| formed therein in 75 communication with thepipe |62 and the chamber |63 formed in the end of the rotor |64. A port|56 formed in the rotor communicates with the chamber |63 vla a passage|66 so that compressed air via the pipe |62 passes via the passages |6|,|66, to the port |66.

The other end plate |61 carries a bearing |58 for the shaft extension|69. The boss |60, in which the bearing is formed,valso carries a steelball |6| which .bears against the end of the shaft |59 and against thenoseof a set screw |62. The set screw |62 carries a nut |63 and may besealed against leakage by means of a gasket |64.

Where the angle of the taper of the rotor falls within such limits thatthe pressure and vacuum tend to force the tapered surface; together withundue friction, the arrangement shown in Figure 9 is advantageousbecause the'device shown in Figure 9 can be set to a point where theleakage between the surfaces is ata minimum and thereby the device canbe operated with a minimum cf friction and the consequent heating.

The lock nut |63 may be loosened and the set screw |62 moved. -Sincethis set screw bears against the steel ball |62, and the ball in turnbears against the end of the shaft, it is obvious that the set screw maybe used to effect any desired setting, and after the setting is obtainedthe set screw may be locked in the set position by means of the lock nut|63.

A boss |65 on the end plate |51 carries a pipe |66 which may beconnected to the Isuction side cf a compressor. A passage |61 thereincommunicates with the chamber |66 formed at the small end of the rotor,and this chamber communicates with the port |69 via-the passage |10.

The arrangement of the nipples 89t0 94, inclusive, in the control panel25, and the provision of gauges 11 and 86 thereon and having associatedtherewith respectively bleeder valves 10 and 81, greatly facilitate theoperators work in While I have herein shown and described one i devicefor operating therapeutic devices, and have shown modifications thereof,it is obvious that many changes may be made in the arrangement hereinshown and described without departing from the spirit of the inventionas set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1.In a distributing valve, a body having a tapered bore formed therein,a plurality of ports circumferentially disposed in said body andcornmunicating with said bore, all said ports lying in a plane at rightangles to the axis of said bore, a rotor for said body forming a workingilt in said .bore and having a distributing port whose circumferentiallength is equal to the circumferential distance from the center of oneof said ports to the adjacent edge oi the next adjacent port, meansconnecting said distributing port to a source of pressure, a seconddistributing port lying in the plane of said rst distributing port andhaving its extremities circumferentially spaced apart from said rstdistributing port disond distributing port to a source ofsub-atmospheric pressure, means to rotate said rotor whereby thepressure delivered to one of said ports is cut oi'f after a succeedingport begins receiving pressure, an end plate secured to one end of saidbody and having a drive shaft for said rotor passing therethrough, astufiing box engaging said drive shaft, a second end plate secured tothe other end of said body and having a stub shaft extension of saidrotor journaled therein, a threaded passage communicating with the endof `said stub shaft, a set screw in said threaded hole and adapted toengage said stub shaft to regulate the depth of engagement of said rotorin said tapered bore, sealing means engaging said end plate and said setscrew, and a lock nut for locking said set screw in an adjusted positionand at the same time sealing said set screw against the leakage of fluidpressure. Y

2. In a distributing valve, a body having a tapered bore therein, aplurality of ports circumferentially disposed in said body andcommunicating with said bore, said ports being adapted to receivefittings radially disposed in said body, a tapered rotor in said bodyhaving a distributing port adapted to coincide with said first ports andcommunicating with one end of said rotor, a second port in said rotoralso adapted to coincide with said'first ports and communicating withthe other end of said rotor, an end plate secured in fluid-tightrelation to one end of said body, a boss on said end plate having apassage formed therein in communication with said first end of saidrotor, a shaft extending from said rotor through said end plate andadapted to be opera tively connected to a prime mover a stuffing box onsaidend plate engaging said shaft to prevent the leakage of fluidtherefrom, a second end plate secured in fluid-tight relation to theopposite end of said body, a -boss formed on said second end plate andhaving a passage formed therein co'mmunicating with said second end ofsaid rotor, a second shaft extending from said second end of said rotorand journaled in said second end plate.

a set screw axially threaded in said second end u plate and adapted toengage said second shaft to regulate the depth of said rotor in itstapered bore, and means for both locking said set screw in a setposition and at the same time preventing the leakage of fluid past saidset screw. each of said passages in said bosses being adapted to beconnected to a fluid medium of a different pressure.

3. In a distributing valve, a body having a tapered bore therein, aplurality of ports circumferentially disposed in said body andcommunicating with said bore, said ports being adapted to receivefittings radially disposed in said body, a tapered rotor in said bodyhaving a distributing port adapted to traverse 'said first ports andcommunicating with one end of said rotor, a second port in said rotoralso adapted to traverse said first ports and communicating with theother endof said rotor, an end plate secured in fluidtight relation toone end of said body and spaced apart from said rotor to form a chamber,a boss on said end plate having a passage formed therein incommunication with said chamber, a shaft extending from said rotorthrough said end plate and adapted tobe operatively connected to a primemover, a stuffing box on said end plate engaging said shaft to preventthe leakage of fluid therefrom, a second end plate secured influid-tight relation to the opposite end of said body and spaced apartfrom the other end of said rotor to form a second chamber, a boss formedon said second end plate and having a passage formed thereincommunicating with said l second chamber, a second shaft extending fromsaid second end of said rotor and joumaled in said second end plate, aset screw axially threaded in said second end plate and adapted toengage said second shaft tov regulatel the depth of said rotor in itstapered bore, means for locking said set screw in a set position. andsealing means associated with said means for locking and adapted toprevent the leakage of fluid past said set screw, each oi' said passagesin the bosses adapted to be connected to a fluid vmedium of a differentpressure.

WALTER ROSETI.

